As for many situations in life, expectation exceeds actuality. I've been waiting for months to read Jodi Picoult's book Sing You Home. I also had James Patterson's Toys reserved (though his books are pretty much all the same...but at least they are a fast read.)
So of course, I was issued one on Tuesday and the other on Wednesday of this week. I'd already been to the library on Monday for a regular visit. That meant I had to make the lengthy trek three times. Sigh! But the point of the post is not that really. The point is my looking forward to those reads. I was going to savor them and marinate in their newness--individually and separately.
Then I get them both at once. That was kind of inconvenient. After waiting months, the least the library gods could do would have been to space them out a little. (Still not the direct purpose of this writing... I'll get to it, I promise.)
The point is that both of these books were disappointing at best and just garbage at worst. Bummer! I have a theory that once a popular author writes one or two good books, he/she just coasts for the rest of his /her career. It's a rare pen that can grind out quality each time. Patterson is like a novel assembly line. He has so many collaborators that I don't even know how he gets away with putting his name on the books. And Picoult, though a reasonably interesting author, seems to write about the malady de jour. Autism, fertility issues, gay rights, cancer--I just get a bit slogged in social problems endlessly. Enough already!
Often things are better in anticipated thoughts than in actual occurrences. Luckily for me, my marriage wasn't one of those things. Having our daughter wasn't either. Dinner at some recommended restaurants, Spanx, baked chips, Sarah Palin's politics, and Oliver Stone movies--always better when I hear about them than when they finally arrive.
This government shut down?? I don't quite know how that's going to be if it's reality instead of a threat. I can wait forever to see how that turns out.
Friday, April 8, 2011
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6 comments:
Hi You! I started reading the Diana Gabaldon series Outlander. I can't put it down and that's saying a lot for me. I end up putting several requests in and then renew them online 4 times so I get to keep them for 12 weeks. I must agree with the Spanx comment. Love the effect for about 2 minutes and then pulling and tucking all night.
I found that out many years ago when I read ... and couldn't put down ... Thorn Birds. Then Richard Chamberlin ruined my imagination but that's another post. Anyhoo...I then read another of Colleen whatever her last name was's other book and hated it. So there ya' are. Let me know if you've read My Sister's Keeper by Picoult. Is it worth the 2 bucks at Goodwill?
if we threatened the politicians that they wouldn't get paid like they say the military isn't going to (even though they'll back date it) it'd make them hurry up and settle.
You made me laugh with your list of things that were better in anticipation than in execution. I know what you mean, too - I just picked up a whole bunch of books from the library that I thought would come to me a lot slower. Oh well. Thank goodness for renewals!
After reading My Sister's Keeper, I don't even think about reading Jodi Picoult. I agree that authors hit their stride and everything starts sounding the same. Nora Roberts is a great example her characters are the same, they just have different names, different occupations, and a slightly different story. Sherrilyn Kenyon is getting that way as well, though I still love her.
I've been spending a lot more time perusing the library shelves lately and have found new authors to read and enjoy. I make a weekly trip, pick up 5 or six books and head back the following week for a bunch of new ones.
I think once they have a couple of best sellers they don't even write them anymore..they just sign their name...sometimes I think they even have a computer program and they just fill in the blanks. I will never buy a new book anymore...they are a waste of money. The best deal is still the library even if you do have to wait a bit...I have more time than money...the whole budget thing makes me ashamed of both sides...what a bunch of little babies..
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